A newly opened Liverpool theatre and arts centre named after the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein is to feature a play about his life later this year.

The Neptune Theatre, a cultural gem in Hanover Street, has been renamed following a £1.2m refurbishment and is now called the Epstein Theatre. More than just a theatre, it will host live music, dance, exhibitions and comedy.

In November, a play celebrating the life of Epstein opens at the venue for a short run until 1 December. It is a fitting tribute as part of the city's celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first single.

The play - which charts Brian Epstein's adult life and career from his drama school days to managing the world's best known pop group – is written by Andrew Sherlock.

It has evolved from a one-man show to a 'two-hander', where a second actor playing various characters will interact with Epstein's character and also provide the musical element.

Sherlock said it had been fascinating wading through the tons of information and interviews and "it feels like we have got to know the man and created a new show with a unique insight into what drove Brian to do the extraordinary things he did." He has delved through the Liverpool Echo's archives from the 1960s as part of his research.

The Epstein theatre opened last week when Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen played two solo shows.

At the opening, David Pichilingi, the chief executive of the theatre said he was very conscious of the theatre's history and what it means to Liverpudlians.

The 380-seat venue opened in 1903 as an adjunct to the city's famous Crane's Music Store and was called Crane's Theatre. It became the Neptune Theatre and a venue for amateur dramatics, but closed six years ago.

Restoration work has been delayed by a lengthy and protracted legal battle. Liverpool's newly elected Mayor Joe Anderson had pledged to resolve the dispute when the Labour group got into power.

He said: "A lot of time and money was wasted sorting out the squabbles between the council and leasee. I'm proud to see what we've achieved."